These toads only mate during a few weeks in April and May and depend upon seasonal pools of rainwater in which to lay their eggs. Warming sea surface temperatures in the adjacent oceans are blamed for decreased rainfall and drier conditions in the cloud forest where the golden toad made its home[2]. During the mating season in 1987, more than 1500 toads were observed, but an exceptionally dry and warm year caused the breeding pools used by the frogs to dry out before the tadpoles could fully mature. Since then, only 11 toads have been observed and no definitive observations have been made since 1989 despite extensive searching[2][3].